Before I start writing I think you will find that this is my 600th Church Explorer post, not all of them are churches but around 500 are from around the UK.
After visiting Alkerton the week before I managed to visit two more churches north of Banbury, St John the Baptist Hornton was one I was on my way to visit when my son phone to pick him up. The church is up a small lane where parking is very limited so I ended up parking nearby on the road and walking there. Going through the gate I did wonder if it was in someones back garden as the grass was well cut but after looking around I spotted headstones around the side.
"The oldest parts of the Church of England parish church of Saint John the Baptist are the nave and the arcade of the north aisle, both of which were built late in the 12th century. They are in the transitional style between Norman and Early English. In the 13th century the nave and north aisle were extended westwards by the addition of a fourth bay. In the 14th century a clerestory and a two-bay south aisle were added to the nave and most of the doors and windows were remodelled. Also in the 14th century the interior was decorated with wall paintings including a Pietà, a Saint George and a Doom. The bell tower was built around 1400 and the present Perpendicular Gothic east window of the chancel was added in the 15th century. Many of the wall paintings were painted over with limewash after the English Civil War.
The tower has a ring of five bells, all cast by Henry III Bagley of Chacombe in 1741.They are currently unringable because the fourth bell is cracked. St. John's is now one of eight ecclesiastical parishes in the Ironstone Benefice."
From across the churchyard the south side
Looking over to the east end
North side view
Going to the west end
West end entrance and window
South west view of the tower
The church from the south west
Foot stones line a flowerbed
Rather nice of chest tomb with inscription
Memorial seat
Looking west up the north side of the church
Looking west from the chancel end of the south side
Ivy covered headstones along with headstones lining a wall along the north side of the church
Looking east along the north side of the church
Headstones by the wall on the north side, I think these have been moved from the south side
In among the ivy a winged skull
The porch looked to be built at an angle
Inside the porch the entrance door
The chancel arch with doom painting
The doom where you can make out quite a bit of the painting
The chancel
The east window with altar beneath
Altar and east window which looks to be tilted
Looking back though the arch to the nave
Nave from the chancel arch
The pulpit on stone plinth
View down from the pulpit
Looking over to the south aisle from the nave
Over to the north aisle
Over the north door which is blocked up the remains of some medieval wall art
This is over the south side but I do not know what it was
More wall art, the painting of St George is behind the pulpit
North aisle
North aisle altar and window
The altar with picture of the Madonna and child
The east window with stained glass inserted showing the Good Shepherd
North aisle
Altar and window which I think has some medieval glass that I did not take photos of
Nearby is the Roll of Honor
Interesting carved capitals on the arch pillars and a stoup
The brass dated 1586 shows a father and son
More brass plaques stating who is buried there from the 1700's
There are a few more tombs with inscriptions this is one of the readable ones
Collage of windows and roof
Back of the north aisle has been made into a cloakroom
The door at the west end was locked but is where the bells are played, might even have a kitchen there
The font with pitcher for christening
The beautifully carved font
Last look down the aisle from the back of the church
I will leave you this week with a photo of the Madonna and child that was in a window.
Till next time may I wish you all a peaceful week
